By David Hamilton ‘17
John Sidney McCain III, a man dedicated to a life of public service, passed on August 25, 2018.
McCain started his 60 years or public service and commitment as a naval aviator during the Vietnam War, during which he was shot down over Hanoi. McCain ended up as a prisoner of war that experienced torture and enemy propaganda, according to the New York Times. He was subjected to beatings and two years of solitary confinement.
Later, McCain retired from the Navy and his mother inspired him to become involved in politics. He would go on to win two terms in the House of Representatives and six terms in the Senate. He even ran for President, winning a series of primary elections and the Republican party nomination, but not the Oval Office. He didn’t let that stop him from pursuing what he thought was right and needed to be done. He became a force in the Senate regardless of his prior failures, and a warrior in any fight. “I wasn’t my own man anymore, I was my country’s,” said John McCain, according to CNN. He fought for the people, he fought for those around him and what he thought was right for them, not for himself.
Born on August 9, 1936, McCain was to be 82 years old not long after he had passed. A few days before his passing, the Arizona Senator discontinue treatment for a brain tumor he began treatment for in July of 2017. McCain had many successes during his time in public service, including everything from pushing bills on immigration reform to receiving the Liberty Medal in 2017.
John McCain released a farewell statement located on his senate website describing how thankful he has been for the incredible life he had. After his passing, McCain went on to lie in state at the Arizona capitol and later at the U.S. capitol. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey appointed former senator Jon Kyl to fill his seat and continue to push to confirm Brett Kavanaugh for the open seat on the Supreme Court until the elections in 2020.